Studying in English in Spain and what still needs Spanish

Key rules

• Availability: Fully English-taught grados are a small minority, and private universities offer proportionally more of them.
• Bilingual degrees: A bilingual degree is not an English degree: expect to study partly in Spanish and to prove Spanish.
• Daily life: Basic Spanish, around A2-B1, is very useful for offices, banks, health care and landlords.
• Placements: Hospital placements and internships generally need functional or fluent Spanish, often B2 or higher.

Language requirements and the list of degrees vary by university and programme, so confirm them with each university before applying.

English-taught degrees are the exception

Most Spanish bachelor's degrees (grados) are taught in Spanish. Fully English-taught ones are a small minority. Master's programmes in English are far more common than undergraduate ones.

Where you look matters:

• Private universities offer proportionally more fully English grados.
• Public universities mostly offer bilingual or partly English grados.
• Subjects: fully English grados cluster in business, international relations and engineering.

Check that a degree is really in English

"English-taught" on a website can mean different things. Look at the programme's own page and confirm that all teaching and exams are in English, not just some modules. A bilingual degree mixes Spanish and English, so you will study partly in Spanish.

Many public universities run English-taught or bilingual degrees, including Carlos III de Madrid, Pompeu Fabra, Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Complutense, Autónoma de Madrid, Valencia, Granada and Alicante. Rules differ by programme, so check each one.

What language level the application asks for

• Fully English programmes usually ask for an English certificate, typically B2 or C1, and no Spanish.
• Bilingual programmes often ask for around B1-B2 Spanish. You prove it with a DELE certificate or the university's own Spanish test.

The documents list below covers what to gather.

Where you will still need Spanish

Even if every class is in English, life around the university runs mostly in Spanish. Immigration offices, the town hall (where you register your address, called empadronamiento), banks, health care and landlords usually work in Spanish. Basic Spanish, around A2-B1, makes all of this much easier. University services in big cities often have English support, so ask what they offer.

Placements are the bigger hurdle. Hospital placements (nursing, medicine, physiotherapy) and company internships generally need functional or fluent Spanish, often B2 or higher. Some programmes require a Spanish certificate before placements start. Ask the university about this before you accept a place, especially for degrees with compulsory practice.

What to do

1. Shortlist degrees that are fully in English.
2. Compare public and private options.
3. Note the language level each one asks for.
4. Ask each university in writing about Spanish for placements and daily support.
5. Start learning Spanish before you arrive.

The checklist below walks through these steps, and the FAQ answers common questions.

Documents you need

• English certificate, typically at B2 or C1 level, for fully English-taught programmes at public universities.

• Spanish certificate (DELE) at around B1-B2 level, or a pass in the university's own Spanish test, for bilingual programmes. Some programmes also ask for it before clinical placements.

• Certificate of registration at your town hall (empadronamiento), which you will need for local admin. The town hall usually works in Spanish.

Checklist

• Check that the grado is taught fully in English, not just bilingual or partly in English.

• Compare public and private universities, since private ones offer proportionally more fully English grados.

• Find the English certificate level the programme asks for, typically B2 or C1.

• Confirm whether the programme asks for any Spanish, such as B1-B2 for bilingual degrees, by DELE or a university test.

• Ask the university whether a Spanish certificate is needed before placements or internships.

Frequently asked questions

What Spanish level do bilingual degrees at public universities ask for?

Bilingual programmes at public universities often ask for around B1-B2 Spanish, shown with a DELE certificate or a university test.

Do I need Spanish for placements in an English-taught degree?

Yes, clinical placements and company internships generally need functional or fluent Spanish, often B2 or higher. This applies to nursing, medicine and physiotherapy in hospitals.

Is English enough for daily life as a student in Spain?

No, English is not enough for most daily admin, because immigration offices, the town hall, banks, health care and landlords usually work in Spanish. Basic Spanish, about A2-B1, is very useful.